Capsule filling device having a standard, a rotatably and slidably mounted platform, and rotatably mounted spreader means thereon



2,525,965 ABLY Oct 1950 J. NORDMAN CAPSULE FILLING DEVICE HAVING ASTANDARD, A ROTAT AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED PLATFORM, AND ROTATABLY MOUNTEDSPREADER MEANS THEREON Flled June 22, 1946 Inventor JOSEPH NOADM/IN land dag-M Z/W Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JosephNordman, Montgomery, Ala.

Application June 22, 1946, Serial No. 678,648

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structuralrefinements in capsule filling devices and the principal object of theinvention is to provide a device of the character herein described, suchas may be conveniently and effectively employed in pharmacies,laboratories, and the like, for the purpose of filling capsules withdrugs and other materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which may beeasily and efficiently operated and in which the capsules may be readilyapplied and removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which may beeasily disassembled for purposes of cleaning and which may be quicklymodified to accommodate capsules of various sizes.

A still further objectv of the invention is to provide a capsule fillingdevice which is simple in construction and which will readily lenditself to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects asmay become apparent as this specification proceeds, the inventionconsists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane ofthe line 2-2 in Figure 1 and showing the device in readiness for thecapsule filling operation.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 2,but illustrating the device in readiness for the removal of capsules,and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional vi ew, .taken.substantially in the planeof the line 44 in Figure 2. i V

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in thespecification and throughout the several views. 7

Referring now to, the accompanying drawings in detail, the inventionembodies in its construction a suitable base Ill, preferabl of circularconfiguration, and provided substantially in the center thereof with athreaded bore ll adapted to receive a screw threaded shank l2 of ashaft-like standard I3.

A substantially circular platform I4 is formed ,with a central bore l5,whereby it may be slidably and rotatably positioned on the standard l3,as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying drawings. The platformis provided with an upturned marginal flange l6 having a concaved guidegroove Mia. The platform is also provided with a plurality of openingsl1 these being adapted 2 to receive the capsules indicated by thephantom lines l8.

The base [0 is also provided with a plurality of outstanding pins l9,these being arranged in a spaced relationship and normally engaging theunderside of the platform M, as is best shown in Figure 2. It will beapparent that in this manner, the platform will be supported in a spacedrelationship with respect to the base, whereby the upper ends of thecapsules [8 are substantially flush with the upper surface 20 of theplatform l4, while the lower ends of the capsules l8 contact the baseIll.

The platform [4 is also formed with a plurality of apertures 2| whichare spaced in accordance with the spacing of the pins I9. It will beapparent thatby rotating the platform M, the pins I9 may be received inthe apertures 2|, whereby the platform I4 may be lowered to contact thebase I 0, as is best shown in Figure '3.

The material distributing means consists of a plurality of spreader arms22, these being pivotally mounted on the standard [3 and extendingradially therefrom, the inner end of the arms being suitably arranged onthe standard, ,so that the lower edges 23 of the arms 22 engage thesurface 20 of the platform 14. i

The upper end of the standard I3 is formed with a screw threaded portion24, and a suitable knurled nut 25 may be removably positioned on thisportion if desired.

Having thus described the constructional details of the invention, itsmethod of operation will now be explained.

When the invention is placed in use, the platform [4 is arranged so asto be supported by the pins l9 whereupon the capsules l8 may be insertedinto the openings IT, as has been already explained.

Material for filling the capsules is then deposited upon the surface 20of the platform l4 and by rotating the spreaders 22 about the standard I3, the material will be effectively distributed to fill the capsules.

When the filling operation is completed, the platform 14 is rotated sothat the pins 19 are received in the apertures 2| whereupon the platformI4 is lowered as already explained, to its position on the base l0, asshown in Figure 3. Suitable caps 26 may then be applied to the capsulesl8 and the capsules may be removed from the device by simply liftingthem from the openings l1.

It will be noted that since in capsules of standard sizes, a capsule ofa given diameter is usu- 3 ally of a given length, the invention may bereadily adapted to accommodate various sizes of capsules. This isaccomplished by employing a common base I!) together with the standard13 and the spreader arms 22, and using a number of attachments, as itwere, consisting of a plurality of the platforms 14. These platformswill be similar in structure, but will differ in thickness and in thediameter of the openings [1.

Accordingly, when it is desired to fill capsules of a relativelydifferent size, the appropriate platform M will be employed, thethickness of which will be in proportion with the length of the capsuleand the openings l'l thereof will conform with the capsule diameter. Inthis manner, the upper ends of the capsules will remain substantiallyflush with the surface 20 of the platform while the latter is beingsupported upon the pins When the invention is not in use, the several ofthe platforms l4 may be stacked, as it were, upon the standard I3, andretained in position thereon by means of the nut 25.

The movement of the arms 22 upon the platform M is indicated by thephantom lines 21 and it should be noted that the device may beeffectively employed for filling a lesser number of capsules withrespect to the number of openings I? with which the platform isprovided. This is accomplished by inserting the desired number ofcapsules in a sector-like formatiom of the required number of openings11 and manipulating the arms 22 only over the portion of the surface 20which is occupied by the capsules. The movement of the arms 22 may beeffectively confined to this area by inserting removable plugs 28 in thesuitable of the openings H, as is illustrated in Figure 1.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will beclearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly,further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction, combination and arrangement of the partsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A capsule filling device comprising a base, a standard carried b thebase, a platform slidably mounted on the standard, said platform havinga plurality of capsule receiving openings, an upstanding circular guideand retaining flange carried by the platform, and spreader meansrotatably mounted on the standard and frictionally engaging the platformand the flange for distributing material into the capsule receivingopenings.

2. A capsule filling device comprising a base, a standard carried by thebase, a platform slidably mounted on the standard, said platform hav inga plurality of capsule receiving openings, an upstanding guide andretaining flange carried by the platform, and spreader meansfrictionally engaging the platform and the flange for distributingmaterial into the capsule receiving openings said guide and retainingflange being annular and having an annular concaved guide groove in itsinner face, and said spreader means including a spreader arm pivotallymounted on the standard and having a rounded end portion forfrictionally engaging the guide groove.

3. A capsule filling device comprising a base, a standard carried by thebase, a platform slidably and rotatably mounted on the standard, saidplatform having a plurality of capsule receiving openings, spreadermeans rotatably carried by the standard and frictionally engaging theplatform, means for guiding the rotary movement of spreader means on theplatform, and pins rising from the base for holding the platform spaceda predetermined distance from the base whereby the closed lower ends ofcapsules positioned in the capsule receiving openings will engage thebase and the upper open ends of the capsules will be substantially flushwith the upper face of the platform, said platform having apertures forreceiving the pins upon rotation of the platform to permit the platformto be lowered against the base.

4. A capsule filling device comprising a base, a standard carried by thebase, a platform slidably mounted on the standard, said platform havinga plurality of capsule receiving openings, spreader means rotatablycarried by the standard and frictionally engaging the platform, meansfor guiding the rotary movement of the spreader means on the platform,and means for holding the platform spaced a predetermined distance fromthe base whereby the closed lower ends of capsules positioned in thecapsule receiving openings will engage the base and the upper ends ofthe capsules will be substantiall fiush with the upper base of theplatform, said last mentioned means including a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced upstanding support pins carried by the base forengaging the lower face of the platform.

5. A capsule filling device comprising abase, a standard carried by thebase, a platform slidably and rotatably mounted on the standard, meansfor normally holding the platform spaced relative to the base, saidplatform including a plurality of capsule receiving openings, a spreaderarm journalled for rotation on the standard and frictionally engaging thupper face of the platform, means for retaining a filling material onthe platform and for guiding the pivotal movement of the spreader arm,and means removably positioned in a selected opening in the platform forlimiting rotation of the spreader arm on the standard.

6. A capsule filling device comprising a base, a standard carried by thebase, a platform slidably mounted on the standard, means for normallyholding the platform spaced relative to the base, said platformincluding a plurality of capsule receiving openings, a spreader armpivoted on the standard and frictionally engaging the upper face of theplatform, means for retaining a filling material on the platform and forguiding the pivotal movement of the spreader arm, and means removablycarried by the platform for limiting the pivotal movement of thespreader arm, said last mentioned means includes a stop plugfrictionally fitted in a selected capsule receiving opening formed inthe platform.

JOSEPH NORDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 311,670 Northrup Feb. 3, 18851,371,264 Rittenbry Mar. 15, 1921 1,658,423 Ware Feb, '7, 1928

